Jace Wayland

Grew up… with the Lightwood family. Jace was raised by his father when he was very young, but his father died, and he was sent to New York to live with the Lightwoods. An exceptionally powerful Shadowhunter by any standard, Jace was raised by the Lightwoods to fight the supernatural as soon as he could walk.

Living… in New York City, at the New York Institute. The Institute is the New York hideout for Shadowhunters, a race of humans infused with angel blood who use their mystical abilities to hunt demons and other evil supernatural forces. Jace and the Lightwood children live there, where they train their skills under the experienced Shadowhunter, Hodge.

Profession… Shadowhunter, and one of the best of his age. Jace is strong, fast, and skilled with nearly every kind of weapon. He believes himself to be “the best Shadowhunter that ever lived,” but perhaps he enjoys fighting a little too much. That’s what Clary – the new girl that Jace brought to the Institute after her mother disappeared – thinks, anyway.

Interests… fighting, mostly. Jace lives for his job, which he sees as his purpose for existing. When he’s not actively fighting, he enjoys hanging out with other Shadowhunters and flirting with women.

Relationship Status… single, not that he has to be. Jace has every confidence in his good looks, but claims that the only person he loves is himself. When he finds Clary’s diary, he exclaims, “A diary with no drawings of me in it? Where are the torrid fantasies? The romance covers?”

Challenge… defeating Valentine. Beyond the regular challenges that come with being a demon-hunter, it seems that something bigger is stirring. A mysterious villain named Valentine is after the Mortal Cup, a magical artifact hidden somewhere in New York City. The mysterious, seemingly mundane Clary is somehow involved with the whole thing, and is Jace’s only clue as to where the artifact might be. The whole thing puts a lot on Jace’s plate: he has to defeat Valentine’s forces, find the Mortal Cup, and ensure that Clary doesn’t get killed in the process.

Personality… sarcastic, sometimes to the point of aggression. Jace is all swagger on the outside. When he’s fighting or flirting, he’s one of the best. But he is always trying to keep others at bay, believing that love is too destructive. His arrogance conceals a deep sense of inadequacy – an especially crushing burden given that when Jace screws up, someone usually dies. Despite his caustic exterior, he cares deeply for his friends and allies, and would happily take a bullet (or a demons claw) to protect them.